A massacre
initiated by the followers of an apocalyptic religious sect known as
the Ark of Truth, leaves more than a hundred people dead - including
the self-appointed killers, slain by fellow cult members. Three years
later, on the anniversary of the slaughter, four friends who lost loved
ones in the tragedy seek solace by journeying to the secluded lake where
it all happened.
This
is an early film from Japanese icon Tadanobu Asano, made shortly after
Shogo Ishii's ELECTRIC
DRAGON 80,000 and just before Takashi Miike's ISHI
THE KILLER. All three movies - classics and career-defining
for Tadanobu Asano - were made in 2001. Other major Asano genre films
include Shinya Tsakamoto's VITAL,
SURVIVE
STYLE 5+, and Ishii's LABYRINTH
OF DREAMS. For a rare, exclusive interview with Mr Asano see
Asian
Cult Cinema magazine #54.
Hirokazu Koreeda is the International award winning director of the
Japanese hit The Shoplifters 2018,
nominated for best foreign language picture at 2019's Academy Awards.
Japanese film
with optional English or Chinese subtitles; widescreen format (16:9),
fully uncut (132 min.); DVD encoded for ALL REGIONS, playable on any
American DVD machine.
Extras include original theatrical trailer and short featurette.
Violence/Adult
Material:
Viewer discretion is advised
